Agricultural implement



March 3195@ M. H. TUF-r 2,499,65

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT ATTORNEYS March 7, R950 M. H. TUF-r AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Filed may 19, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MILES H. TUFT ATTORNEYS M- H. TUFT AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Marsh 79 E95@ 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 19, 1945 INVENTOR.

MILES H. TUFT v ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 7, 1950 AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Miles H. Tuft, San Gabriel, Calif., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Deere Manufacturing Co., a corporation of Iowa Application May 19, 1945, Serial No. 594,685

14 Claims. (Cl. 56-364) The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements, and particularly to that class of implements in which the implement is drawn behind a tractor and travels through a field picking up harvested crops and delivering the crops to a crop treating body, such as, for example, a baling press, which compresses the harvested crops into bales, ties the bales, and discharges them upon the eld for later collection.

The principal object of my invention relates to the provision of a novel and improved mechanism for gathering the crop material in the field and delivering it to the body of the implement. One feature of the platform and feeder mechanism resides in the total elimination of all exible endless feeders such as canvases, raddle chains and the like, but at the same time maintaining close and accurate control of the flow of crops into the baling chamber of the implement.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following description and the drawings appended hereto, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a baling press embodying the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the implement, taken from the left hand side.

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view of the tubular draft member and the telescoping power shaft extending therethrough and Figure 4 is a sectional elevational view taken approximately along the center line of the platform and feeder mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, the baling press comprises a bale case 5 disposed transversely of the direction of travel and supported on a pair of laterally spaced ground wheels 6, 1, each of which is journaled on an axle 8 mounted on a leg 9 which is fixed to the bottom of the bale case 5 and extends downwardly therefrom.

A platform, indicated in its entirety by reference numeral I0, extends forwardly from the intermediate portion of the bale case 5 and comprises an imperforate floor plate II having a unique shape, which will be described later, and a pair of vertically disposed side walls I2 which converge rearwardly along opposite side edges of the oor plate II. Extending across the forward end of the platform is a, pickup device I5, which is preferably of the type shown and described in detail and claimed in Patent 2,347,907 granted May 2, 1944 to George B. Hill, although it is to be understood that the present invention is not lim- 2 ited to this particular type of pickup device. For present purposes, it is sufcient to state that the pickup device I5 comprises a cylindrical drum I5' having four circumferentially spaced rows of,

axially spaced crop engageable fingers I1, which are mounted within the drum I6 and extend outwardly through circumferentially extending slots i8.

During operation, the drum is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, by means which will be described later, causing the ngers I1 to engage the crops on the' Above the pickup device I5 is a rotary feeder,( indicated generally by reference numeral 25 andv comprising a main supporting shaft 26, which is journaled at opposite ends thereof, respectively,

in a pair of bearing sleeves 21, 28. The bearing' sleeve 21 is mounted on a bracket 29 which is secured Iby bolts 30 to the side wall I2 on one side of the platform, and the other sleeve 28 is` mounted on a drive housing 3| which is mounted on top of the opposite side wall i2. The shaft 26 carries a pair of laterally spaced spiders 32, each. of which has a plurality of arms 33, the preferred embodiment including two arms 33 in each spider, which carry a pair of transversely extending shafts 34, journaled at opposite ends thereof, respectively, in the arms 33. Each of the shafts 34 is provided with a plurality of spring tines or fingers 35 which are xed :by bolts 36 to the shaft 34. Each of the shafts 34 is provided with an actuating arm 31, rigidly fixed thereto out-k side of one of the spiders 32, the arm 31 having a camming roller 38 rotatably mounted thereon in a position to engage a cam or track 39 fixed to the bearing sleeve 28 and formed of a bowed piece of strap material. During rotation of the feeder 25 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4, the roller 38 engages the track 39 as each shaft 34 moves downwardly in front of the supporting shaft 26. Engagement of the roller 38 with the track 39 forces the arm 31 forwardly and rotates the shaft 34 to bring the lingers 35 into a generally vertical downwardly pointing position, causing the fingers to be inserted into the mass of crop material that is lifted to the plate I9 by the pickup device I5. Further rotation of the feeder 25 swings the ngers 35 rearwardly over the floor plate I I while maintaining them in a generallyA vertical position, whereby they sweep the harvested crop material rearwardly over the platform. Just as the shaft 34 begins to move upwardly in back of the supporting shaft 26, the roller 38 leaves the track 39, since the latter is bent sharply upwardly, as indicated atd) in Figure 4. This permits the shaft 34 to rotate relative to the spider arms 33, whereby thengers 35 maintain a generally vertical position as they are withdrawn upwardly out of engagement with the crop material on the platform. YThis movement, in which the fingers 35 rotate in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 3.4, is encouraged bya coil spring I which is attached by rivets orbolts to the two shafts 34 on the .trailing side of each shaft, the spring 4! being stressedin tension to bias each of the shafts 34.fin.,a .counterclockwise direction. The outer endof, each-of the arms 31 is provided a stop-finger .42, which moves into engagement with the shaft 26'by the counterclcckwise rotation of the shaft 34 and lingers 35. In Fgure 4, the fingers 35 at the top of .the feeder 25 are in a completely retracted position, in which the actuating arm 31 is in a position with its stop finger 42l in engagement with the shaft 2S, while the lower ngers 35 are in crop engaging positon with the roller 38 on the actuating arm 31 in camming engagement with the track 39 to hold the fingers 35 vertical against the tension of the spring 4I. The floor surface in the forward portion of the platform is slightly concave, as indicated at V45,` and is inclined upwardly and rearwardly at. a comparatively steep angle from the scraper plate I9 over the pickup drum I5 to a part approximately' midway between the front and rear ends of the platform, where the floor plate I I is bent downwardly, forming a hump 4B extending transversely across the platform. The floor plate from .the hump 46 rearwardly to the rear end of the platform is inclined at an angle more nearly horizont-al; that is to say, the slope of the rear portion of the floor is less than the slope at the forward portion of the floor.

Rotation of the feeder moves the fingers 35 rearwardly over the forward inclined portion 45 ofthe floor I I, thereby moving the crop material thereon rearwardly to the hump 46. The crop material is retained on the concave fioor portion 45 by means of a plurality of retaining members 41 in the form of longitudinally extending laterally 'spaced rods which are swingably supported attheir forward ends on a transverse supporting bar '48, turning downwardly and rearwardly therefrom in converging relation to the upwardly inclined forward portion 45 of the floor I'I and the rear ends of the rods 41 rest upon the hump 46'in. the fioor, but are'movable vertically away from the latter as vthe crop material is forced under the rods 41 by the crop engaging fingers 35. The rods I1A are spaced laterally to receive therebetween the 'fingers 35 to prevent interference between the fingers and the rods. The rods 41 alsoaid in stripping the crop from the fingers when the latter are withdrawn upwardly as they pass over the top of the feeder 25.

The Vcrops are moved rearwardly over the upper orl rear portion 49 of the floor II by means of anotheirotatable feeder 55, which includes a BIJ rotary shaft 56. Each end of the feeder shaft 56 is journaled in a bearing sleeve 51 above the two side walls I2 of the platform, respectively. Each of the bearing sleeves 51 is supported on a pair of front and rear articulated links 58, 59, respectively. The front links 58 are swingably connected to the bearing sleeves 21, 28 of the forward feeder 25, for swinging movement about the axis 0f rotation of the feeder shaft 26 while the rear ends of the links 58 are mounted on the bearing sleeves 51 of the rear feeder 55. The rear links 59`are swingably mounted on the sleeve 51 and are pivotally supported at their rear and lower ends on the top of the bale case 5. One of the links 59 is swingably mounted on a shaft 60 carried in brackets 6I xed to the bale case 5, while the other rear-link 59 is swingably mounted on a pair of laterally spaced bearing sleeves 62, which are supported on brackets 63 on top of the bale case 5, and also .support a rotatable drive shaft 64, 'the axis of'rotation of which is coaxial with the pivot pin'BIl.

`The feeder further includes a pair of radially extending arms 65 spaced laterally and'supported rigidly on the shaft 56. The outer ends of the arms 65 support therebetween a feeder shaft' 66, which is journaled in bearings 61 at the ends of the arms 65, respectively. A pair of spring tines or fingers 68 are secured by bolts 59 to the shaft 56 and are spaced to pass between the ngers35 of the forward feeder 25 in overlapping relation, thereby tending to strip olf any crop material that tends to cling to the fingers 35 as the latter are raised out of crop engaging position.

One end of the shaft 66 is providedwith an actuating arm 1D, which is connected by a link 1I to a camming arm 12 lpivotally connected at 13 to one of the arms 65. A roller 14 is journaled on the side of the camming arm` 12 and engages a cam or track 15, which is rigidly fixed to the associated Vbearing sleeveV 51.

.During rotation of thefeeder shaft 55, the arms 65 and lingers 68 swing downwardly behind the front feeder V25 in substantially aligned position, as shown in solid' lines in'Figure 4. The radius of the cam 15'increases, causing'the arm 12 to swing ina clockwise direction and acting through the link1I toforce the fingers 68 downwardlyiina generally verticalposition into the crops delivered tothe rearportion 49 of the platform floor II. The roller 14 disengages the cam, which is turned upwardly sharply at 16, thereby permitting Ythe shaft andngers 68 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction relative to thearms 65 as the latter rotates vin a clockwise direction. This causes the ngers to be withdrawn from the top of the-bale case 5in a substantially vertical position, as indicated indotted lines in Figure 4. YThe top of the bale case` 5.is.provided with longitudinally extending slots 11 through which the fingers 68 move rearwardly through the bale case and thereby discharging cropmaterial from the platform into the bale case. A tension spring 19 is connected to an arm extending on 'the opposite side of thepivot 13 from the arm 12 and' fixed to the latter. 'The other end of the spring 19 is anchored to the shaft 66 and tends to swing the fingers' G8 in a counterclockwise direction. The arm'12 is'provided with a stop finger SI which engages the shaft 56 after the roller 14 leaves the cam 15, as indicated .in dotted lines in Figure 4.

Therear 'end of the platform IIJ is swingably connected to the' bale "case by transversey pivot means'includingpins 85; whichare *supportedin bearings 86 mounted on the front of the bale case 5, thereby providing for vertical swinging movement of the platform about the transverse axis of the pivots 85 relative to the main frame or bale case of the implement to raise and lower the pickup device |5 relative to the ground. Vertical swinging movement of the platform I has the effect of raising and lowering the rear feeder 55 slightly through the articulated links 58, 59, and thereby maintaining the path of the fingers 68 in the proper relation to the rear portion 49 of the fioor plate I I and also the feed opening 81 in the front of the bale case while preventing interference between the fingers 68 and the platform floor II.

The crops are compressed within the bale case by means of a plunger 90 which is reciprocated within the bale case by means of a connecting rod 9| swlngably connected at 92 to a crank arm 93 on the crank shaft. Bales are tied by automatic wire tying mechanism 94, the details of which are not a part of the present invention.

Power to drive the feeders 25, 55, and the pickup device I5, is obtained from the drive shaft 64, which in turn receives power through a pair of beveled gears 95, which are connected by means (not shown) to the crank shaft of the baling mechanism. A drive chain 96 is trained over a pair of sprockets 91, 98, fixed to the shaft 64 and to the feeder shaft 56, respectively. A second drive chain |00 is trained around a pair of sprockets IOI, |02, fixed to the shafts 56, 26, respectively, of the two feeders 55, 25. A third chain |03 interconnects a pair of sprockets |04, |05, fixed to the feeder shaft 26 and to the pickup drum i6, respectively, and extends therebetween through a chain housing |06, which communicates with the upper chain housing 3|, within which the sprocket |04 is contained. A pair of idlers |01, |08 are journaled within the chain housing 3|, and the chain |03 is trained over these idlers and under the sprocket |04 in order that the pickup drum I6 may be driven in the opposite direction of rotation relative to the feeders. Inasmuch as the various sprockets in the series of drive chains are rotatable about the axes of swinging movement of the links 58, 59, vertical movement of the platform relative to the bale case does not have any effect upon the drive chain.

The implement is drawn by a tractor or other prime mover through a tubular draft tongue II5, preferably of rectangular cross section. The tongue I I is mounted at its rear end in a bracket ||6, supported beneath the bale case 5. The tubular tongue I|5 extends obliquely forwardly and toward the left in order to position the implement in an offset relation to the tractor, and the forward end of the tubular tongue II5 is supported by an upwardly and rearwardly extending bracing member I|1 connected to the tongue |I5 at its forward end and vto the bale case at its rearward end by means of bolts II8. The tongue ||5 is secured against lateral movement by means of a forwardly converging bracing member |I9, the rear end of which is connected with the wheel supporting leg 9.

The forward end of the tubular tongue |I5 carries a drawbar |20 which is pivotally mounted on a transverse bolt |2| supported on a pair of upwardly extending brackets |22, the latter being secured by a pair of bolts |23 on opposite sides of a collar |24 secured to the forward end of the tongue ||5. The forward end of the drawbar |20 is provided with a clevis |25 which can be connected with the drawbar of a tractor, in dicated by reference numeral |26, by means of a vertical draft pin |21. The drawbar |20 extends rearwardly from the pivot bolt |2| and is pivotally connected at its rearward end by means of a bolt |28 to a bracket |29 fixed beneath the draft tongue I|5.

The drawbar |20 is vertically adjustable relative to the draft tongue 5 by removing the rear pivot bolt |28 and swinging the drawbar |20 vertically about the forward pivot bolt |2|, the rear end of the drawbar being provided with a plurality of holes |30 adapted to receive the bolt |28 in vertically adjusted position. The drawbar |20 is additionally adjustable vertically by removing the bolts |23 and pivoting the drawbar |20 vertically about the axis of the bolt |28, and the vertical brackets |22 are provided with a series of vertically spaced apertures |3|, through which the bolts |23 can be inserted after the angularity of the drawbar |20 has been determined.

Power for driving the pickup and ballng mechanism is obtained from the tractor power takeoif shaft by conventional connections including a short shaft section |33 over the draft pin connection |21, and a universal joint |34 to a power shaft |35 which extends through the tubular draft member I I5 and is supported in a pair of axially spaced bearings |36. The bearings |36 are mounted within a tubular section |31, which slidably ts within the forward end of the draft member ||5 in telescoping arrangement. The inner section |31 is also square in cross section and is thus secured against rotation but is permitted to slide forwardly out of the end of the tube I I5 as the tractor and implement pass over rolling ground. The power shaft |35 is one member of a pair of telescoping power shaft members and fits into the end of a tubular shaft member I 38 in a conventional manner. The rear section |38 is connected through a universal joint |39 to a longitudinally extending shaft |40 supported in a pair of fore and aft spaced bearings |4| mounted on pedestals |42 beneath the bale -case 5. A V-belt pulley |43 is fixed to the rear end of the shaft |40 and is connected by a V-belt |44 to drive the baling and pickup mechanism.

When the implement is attached to the tractor, the drawbar |20 is first secured to the tractor drawbar |26, after which the drawbar |20 is adjusted angularly relative to the tubular draft member ||5, in order to adjust `the height of the power shaft |35 to the height of the power takeoff shaft.

The pickup device is adjusted vertically rela-` tive to the ground by means of a rockshaft |45 mounted transversely beneath the platform and having a pair of laterally spaced arms |46 attached thereto. The arms |46 are connected to a pair of compression links |41, respectively, by pivot bolts |48, and the compression links |41 extend forwardly and are pivotally connected at |49 to the forward portion of the platform. Thus, by rocking the arms |46 forwardly, a force is transmitted through the compression links |41 to raise the platform I0 upwardly about the axis of its pivot4 connection 85. The rockshaft |45 is rocked by means of an adjusting chain |50 which is secured to one of the arms |46 and extends forwardly under the tubular draft member II5, and passes through an aperture |52 in a plate I5! rigidly fixed to the bottom of the' draft member II5. Thus, to raise the platform,

the iiisz pulled `througlfifthe` apertured plate `1.5L The ,aperture |52 in thek plate :is in the form of a vkeyhole which is :adapted to `retain the chain in adjusted position.

#The platform lfis counterbalanced by means of a'rst counterbalancingrspring |55 which is connected at its rear end to one ofthe arms |46 and'extends forwardly underV the tubular draft member H5, the forward end ofthe .spring 55 being secured to a plate |56 which rigidly fixed, as byweldingrto the bottom of thetubular draft member H5. A second spring I5'I is secured to the bearing bracket 63 on'the opposite end'of the platform and extends downwardly and forwardly and is connected at its forward end to the sidewall l2 on that side of the platform,

'I claim: lwFor use in an agricultural machine having a body and a platform pivotally mounted thereon, the combination of two pairs `of articulated links spaced laterally to receive therebetween a rotatable feeder, means journalling said feeder for rotation substantially coaxially with the axis -of articulation of said links, means for pivotally mounting one of each of -sad pairs of links on said body, and means pivotally mounting the other of each pair on said platform.

2. For use in an agricultural machine comprising` a body and a platform pivotally mounted thereon, the combination of two pairs of articulated links spaced laterally to receive therebetween a rotatable feeder, means journalling said feeder for rotation substantially coaxially with the axis of articulation of said links-means for pivotally mounting one link of each of said pairs of links on said body, means pivotally mounting the'other link of each pair on said platform, and a second rotatable feederV supported between said links on said platform ,for rotation about said pivot axis of said platform mounted links.

3. The `combination set forth in claim 2, including .the furtherprovison of a power shaft journaled on said body, power transmitting means connected between saidv power Ashaft and the first-mentioned rotatable feeder, and power transmitting means connected betweenl the two feeders for driving said secondfeeder.

4. An agricultural machine comprising amain frame, a platform extending forwardlyvtherefrom and pivotall'y mounted thereon for vertical-swinging vmovement relative thereto, two laterally spaced pairs of articulated links including front links pivoted Ycoaxially on said platform adjacent the forward end of the `latter `andrea-r linkspivoted coaxially on said main frame, a first feed-er shaft extending between said pairs of links vand journaled thereon substantially coaxially lwith the common axis of articulation of said pairs, a feeder `mounted on said feeder shaft and-rotatable therewith, a second feeder shaft extending between said pairs of links andfjournaled substantially coaxially with said coaxial pivots on the forward end of said platform, and a second feeder mounted on said second feeder shaft and rotatable therewith.

5. lThe combination set forth inclaimv 4, including the further provision of `a power shaft journaled on .said main frame substantially coaxially with said rear link pivots, a first power transmitting means interconnecting said power shaft and said first feeder shaft, and a second power transmitting means interconnecting said first feeder shaft and said second feeder shaft, saidrst and said second power transmitting -lll means `beingrnfiovablebodily with said rear and sad'front links, respectively.

6. The combination set forth in claim 4,including the furtherv provision of a power shaft journaled on said main frame substantially coaxially with said rear link pivots, a pair of power transmitting wheels fixed to said power shaft and saidrst feeder shaft, respectively, a exible endless ypower transmitting member interconnecting said wheels, a second pair of power transmittingiwheels fixed to said' first and second feeder shafts, respectively, and a second flexible endless power transmitting member interconnecting lsaid Vsecond pair of wheels.

7. An agricultural machine comprising a main frame, a platform extending forwardly therefrom and pivotally mounted thereon for vertical swinging movement relative thereto, two laterally spaced pairs of articulated links including front links pivoted coaxially on said platform adjacent `the forward end of the latter and rear links-:pivoted coaxially l on said main frame. a 'first feeder shaft extending between said pairs of links and journaled thereon substantially coaxially with the common axis of articulation of said pairs, a feeder mounted on said feeder shaft and rotatable therewith, a second feeder shaft extending between said pairs of links and journaled `substantially coaxially with said coaxial'pivots on the forward end of said platform, a second feedermounted on said `second feeder shaft and rotatable therewith, and a rotatable pick-up device mounted along the forward end of said platform and cooperable with said second feeder yto deliver harvested crops toV Said first feeder.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7, including the further provision of a power shaft journaledvon said'main frame substantially coaxia'lly'with'said rear link pivots, a first power transmitting means interconnecting said power shaftl and said first feeder shaft, a second power transmitting means interconnecting said first feeder shaft 'and said second feeder shaft, and a third lpower transmitting means interconnecting said second feeder shaft and said pick-up device.

9. In an agricultural machine comprising a body and a platform Vextending forwardly therefrom, a rotary pick-up device mounted across the forward end of said platform and having crop engageable fingers for picking up crops from the field, a rotary feeder mounted over said platform above said pick-up device and having crop engageablefngers for moving said crops rearwardly on said platform, and a plurality of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending members supported on saidplatform and disposed between said rotary feeder and said pick-up device and in crop-strippingnrelation to the fingers of said rotary feeder for engaging the crops delivered to the platform by said pick-up device and retaining the crops for Yengagement bysaid feeder fingers.

' 10. In-ran agricultural machine comprising a body and a platform extending forwardly therefrom; a rotarypick-up'device mounted across the forward end ofsaid platform and having crop engageable lingers for picking up crops from the field, a rotary feeder mounted over said platform above .said pick-up device and having crop engageable fingers for moving said crops rearwardly on said platform, a ysecond rotary feeder mounted over :the rear portion of said platform and having :crop '.engageable Vfingers 'for receiving the cropslfrom the forward :feeder and vdelivering thencrops 110,saidnbody, said `platform comprising a floor having a forward portion inclined upwardly and rearwardly from said pick-up device and over which said forward feeder moves the harvested crops and a rear portion inclined relative to said forward portion toward the hori- Zontal and over which the crops are moved by said second feeder, and a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending crop retaining members supported at their forward ends between said pick-up device and said feeder thereabove and having their rear ends resting upon the upper portion of said platform for retaining the crops while said feeder lingers pass between said members to move the crops rearwardly thereunder.

l1. 1n an agricultural machine comprising a body and a platform extending forwardly therefrom, a rotary pick-up device mounted across the forward end of said platform and having crop engageable fingers for picking up crops from the eld, a rotary feeder mounted over said platform above said pick-up device and having crop engageable ngers for moving said crops rearwardly on said platform, a second rotary feeder mounted over the rear portion of said platform and having crop engageable fingers for receiving the crops from the forward feeder and delivering the crops to said body, said platform comprising a floor having a forward portion inclined upwardly and rearwardly from said pick-up device and over which said forward feeder moves the harvested crops and a rear portion inclined relative to said forward portion toward the horizontal and over which the crops are moved by said second feeder, a transverse support mounted o-n said platform above said pick-up device, and a plurality of longitudinally extending crop retaining members mounted on said transverse support and extending rearwardly between said feeder and said forward floor portion and normally resting at their rear ends on said rear floor portion but yieldable upwardly therefrom, said members being spaced laterally to receive therebetween said fingers on the first mentioned rotary feeder.

12. 1n an agricultural machine comprising a body and a platform extending forwardly therefrom, a rotary pick-up device mounted across the forward end of said platform and having crop engageable fingers for picking up crops from the field, a first rotary feeder mounted over said platform above said pick-up device and having crop engageafble lingers for moving said crops rearwardly on said platform, a second rotary feeder mounted over the rear portion of said platform and having crop engageable fingers overlapping said lingers on the forward mounted feeder for stripping crops therefrom, said platform comprising a iioor having a concave forward portion beneath said forward feeder over which the 10 fingers of the latter travel in moving the crops, said forward floor portion terminating in a transversely extending hump, and crop retaining means over said forward portion comprising a transverse support above said pick-up device and a plurality of retaining members mounted vthereon and extending rearwardly and having their rear ends lying on said hump, said members being spaced laterally and yieldable upwardly to receive therebetween the crop engageable lingers of said first rotary feeder.

13. In an agricultural machine comprising a body and a platform extending forwardly therefrom, a rotary pick-up device mounted across the forward end of said platform and having crop engageable fingers for picking up crops from the iield, a rotary feeder mounted over said platform above said pick-up device and having crop engageable fingers for moving said crops rearwardly on said platform, said platform comprising a floor having a forward portion inclined upclined upwardly and rearwardly from said pick-- up device and over which said feeder moves the harvested crops and a rear portion inclined relative to said forward portion toward the horizontal, and a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending crop retaining members supported at their forward ends between said pick-up device and said feeder therea-bove and having their rear ends resting upon the upper portion of said platform for retaining the crops while said feeder fingers pass between said members to move the crops rearwardly thereunder.

14. An agricultural machine, comprising: a body; a platform pivotally connected thereto for swinging movement about a horizontal axis; first link means pivotally mounted on the body for movement about an axis parallel to the platform pivot axis; second link means, pivotally mounted on the platform on an axis parallel to the aforesaid axes, and pivotally connected to the first link means on an axis parallel to the aforesaid axes; and a rotatable feeder journaled on at least one of the link means for movement about an axis parallel to the aforesaid axes. Y

MILES H. TUFT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,834,100 Knapp et al. Dec. 1, 1931 2,049,673 Starr Aug. 4, 1935 2,347,926 Paradise et al May 2, 1944 2,430,734 Raney et al June 12, 1945 2,388,212 McElhoe et al. Oct. 30, 1945 2,378,107 Russell Nov. 11, 1947 

